Introduce yourself…
Paul Crook - drummer/manager/founder member
How did the band start?
Our first live gig in early 2001 was a 'gift' for a friends 40th birthday party, his wife was arranging a suprize party & he was a big Sex Pistols fan, so we thought we could get together & provide the entertainment for the night as our gift to him.. So we put alot of effort into getting things as close as possible right from the start, with the clothing, sound, backing vocals etc. Then at that first gig everyone was so blown away with it all, & it went so well that the venue re-booked us to play again the next month to the general public. So even though it was only meant to be a one off event, we had enjoyed ourselves so much we just wanted to do it again. A little while later after doing a few gigs around the local bars & clubs we entered a 'Battle of the tribute bands' competition arranged by a local entertainment agency looking for new cheap acts to flog around thier network of blue-rinse bingo halls & working men's clubs. We knew full-well we wouldn't ever be allowed to win - afterall - what would they do with a Sex Pistols band?? - We'd go down like a 'fart in a lift' in those trypes of places. So we did it just for a laugh really, to be the stick in the mud & stir things up a bit, but we also thought it'd make a good launch-pad & prove that good entertainment doesn't have to be bland, dull, polite & boring Tina Turner/Bon Jovi/Elton John songs, and that a bit of energy & excitement will go a long way. We won the first heats, & came 2nd over all in the final, (2nd to a Shania Twian tribute who'd won - mind you, she did have a nice arse which definately helped with the all male judges) We were then all over the local press the next day - the "underdogs triumph" etc. Then next time we were due to play a gig the word had got out on us, and it was a sold-out show & then we were off & running. We felt at first it was just going to be a short lived bit of fun, but we knew from the first rehearsal that we we're on to something a little special, Every gig we kept on tweeking bits here & there, learning on experience & trying to make things better all the time. It was four or five years later, four or five years of hard giging in the North of England primerily, before we really felt we'd got it about right, then we handed in our notice to the day- jobs, & started to broaden our horizons, venture overseas, to Europe & the U.S.A etc.
Why a tribute band?
None of us were big fan's of the concept, or idea, of tribute bands at first, like many people (who don't really get it or understand it) we didn't have alot of respect for bands doing someone else's material. But if you happen to live miles awy from any major city - as we did -& want to get by & survive as a working musician after years of flogging your guts out trying to get noticed doing original stuff, sooner or later you realise that performing covers is perhpas the only way to earn & stay afloat, or else what do you do? Hang-up the guitar & join the queue for a job at McDonalds - no thanks.! I came to that conclusion as i preferred to play music than do some souless job 9 -5 - even if it is someone elses music im playing it beats being stuck in an office or something - y'know?
Anyhow, i'd noticed over the years when trib bands were getting popular through the late 80's into the 90's that no-one was doing my favorite band, the Sex Pistols, or rather there was - but just very badly - pub type cover acts with no effort to getting the details right, just wearing jeans & t-shirts & struggling with poor musicianship, no one could do it, at least to my mind - not do it right anyway. It's one of the hardest band's to do, because of the look and sound, its not as easy as you'd think to play, or to look like. There are four strong, image laden, iconic, colourful charecters in the Sex Pistols, perfect recipe for a decent tribute band..! People said they couldn't play, but that was just press hype as they certainly could, listen to their album, or live recordings & tell me they couldn't play? Of course Sid couldn't play bass too well, but listen to Glen Matlock - brilliant bassist. That one album of theirs has stood the test of time to this day, and is still a major influence on many of today's new bands. The 'Never mind the Bollocks' album in-fact was recently voted the most influential albums of all time, in 2nd place only to the Beatles! And the look of the band, & attitude, was, & still is, original. It's important that today's youth see, and recognize, the impact of the sex pistols on music today, they cannot see the 'real' band anymore as they were in their prime in 1976/77, so we are the only chance the kids of today will get to see the music done accurately, and played with passion, excitement & the dynamics fully live. And the older generation, who like us remember it all the first time around, are also having a fantastic time, reliving their youth and thoroughly enjoy seeing the Sex Pistols Experience too. There's hundreds of 'Who', 'Abba', Led Zepplin, or 'Beatles' bands etc out there doing the rounds, but only one Sex Pistols tribute show thats worth anything, we have gained the respect from fan's and, most importantly - the original band themselves.
Outside of the Sex Pistols do you have other musical influences?
We all like different things & we all have varied record collections, its always a bit of a power struggle as to what we're going to listen to on the way to gigs when travelling together.! But i think generally speaking its fair to say we're all Punk Rockers at heart, i certainly am, i got into music at about 11yrs old, just as the first wave of Punk was fading into the 2nd in 1978/79 - which was a great time for music, with 'real' bands & great production. But i grew up largely on the 2nd wave of punk, with the Exploited, Anti Nowhere League, UK Subs etc, etc, all the usual suspects. & we're all happy to listen to that stuff now. But i have wide influences for my drumming, from Clem Burke (Blondie) Jerry Nolan (New York Dolls & Heartbreakers), to Ced Sharpley (Gary Numan early stuff) to Paul Hester (Crowded House!) along with many others. All four of us open up each others ear's to new stuff. But generally we're happy listing to almost anything pre 1985 when it pretty much all went shit.!
What is the punk scene like in UK?
It's reasonably healthy i'd say, although perhaps its fair to say it faded in the mid 80s, barely exsisted at all during the 90's, came back into 2000's, & got strong once again with the help of certain festivals, & the re-emergence of many of the original bands & the older fans who'd kids had now perhaps grown up enough so they could get out once more & enjoy the bands they once did. But there's alot of new younger fans out there who are keen to discover the originators.
Describe the transformation to a Sex Pistol...
Rotter & Kid Vicious have the most work to do, but it obviously helps if you already look alot like who your meant to portray, in Kid Vicious's case - its vodka - about half a bottle of it that makes the transformation complete & gives him the confidence to get on stage & be 'Sid'.! Rotter spends a lot of time getting his 'costume' stage clothing as near as possible, i've never seen anyone in any tribute pay so much attention to details. But he really pulls something out of his soul every night of performance, his likeness is incredible & a real asset to this band.. For me on the drums its just reverting back to how i learnt to play age 11 or 12 with headphones on & playing along to pistols records, i became a much more established drummer over the years & now i have to hold back & keep it simple - which can be a bit frustrating, but its good rocking powerful stuff to play, & always alot of fun.
In order to a do good performance as a Sex Pistol, what type of work/research did you have to do?
Have you guys released any music as the Sex Pistols Experience?
We actually never wanted to go in the studio to re-record what are already classic songs - whats the point in trying to re-record any of those songs over again?? It'd be like trying to rerecord the classic Beatles songs, your just asking for crittisism because people will always find fault. If anyone ever asked us "Why don't we do more recording?" we always just said "Go listen to the original Never mind the bollocks" if thats what you want to listen to. We heard too many other Pistols cover/tribute bands going off spending hundreds of pounds (probably) on studio time to re-do the Bollocks songs, & we never heard any that even came close to the original, vocals usually all wrong, drummmers playing it too fast, whatever - no one ever seemed to really 'listen' first to the songs before recording them. So we didn't see any point in us bothering, & always just preferred to put out live recordings of us doing live shows. A far more accurate representation of what we are capable of as a tribute band. Anyhow, one day we get a phone call, some bloke wants to do a 'Tribute album to the Sex Pistols & wanted us on the album, & offered to pay the studio time. So we thought about it for a while, & decided if it wasn't going to cost us anything - then why not? - i think also we were all curious as to how we'd sound properly recorded too, & this was our opportunity to do it 'free'. Plus we do like doing studio stuff having done plenty in our various other bands prior to the Sex Pistols Experience getting together, so figured we'd have a fun couple of days. The thing is, we played these songs literally hundreds, if not thousands of times over the years, at every gig & god knows how many times rehearsing over the years, so we know them inside out & back to front with our eyes shut. We played the songs far more times over 9yrs than the real Sex pistols ever have, or anyone else the World over. Both tracks were captured in two or three takes at the most. Which left us plenty of time to put the guitar overdubs on, & do the backing vocal correctly. But we kind of played them as we would do live - so our versions - although exactly the same running time as the original tracks - are driven with more power, energy & passion than the 1977 versions. We felt that with the right producer, who we found in 'Matt' at Axis studio in Doncaster - who we knew was/is a massive Pistols fan with years of experience behind a mixing desk, made for the perfect recipe for Pistols perfection. So we did see it as a challenge, & knew we had some big boots to fill, but more importantly to getting good results in a studio is to have fun at the sessions, but we also found it suprisingly very easy & quick to do, leaving lots of time to drink beer & play pool, while Matt slaved over the production.
Is it true you have met all the members of the original band?
Yes, at various times, it was me who told Paul Cook about the Pistols reforming in 2006. I was at Pulp gig in Hull east Yorkshire, & their support band was Edwyn Collins who had Paul Cook drumming, i know their guitarist & so i had the backstage pass, so im sat next to Cooky telling how i'd just heard Lydon on the radio on the way to the gig saying he was ready now to reform the Pistols & how there'd be a press conference at the 100 Club the following Monday - Cooky didn't believe me, but sure enough there he was on nation TV news stations on the Monday with the rest of the band announcing plans to tour again.!
Our guitarist for the last 6yrs has just recently left us to go join Glen Matlock in his band the Phillistines to tour, he's always been mates with Glen, so it was no suprise to us that he got the shout. We'd performed on the same bill as Glen in 2006 in Liverpool's Cavern Club at a Pistols convention - but Glen left before we perfomed. I think he feels a bit awkward about it as we have a 'Sid' & not a .Glen' on bass.
Jonesy we met in L.A on a tour of the States, he invited us onto his Radio show Jonesy's Jukebox. Which was of course a great moment for us.
Lydon, we've had a few chances over the years, but avoided it to be honest, all sounds a bit to stressful, & they always say "never meet your hero's" - but we did send our Johnny Rotter up backstage at Hammersmith to get the obligatory photo for the website. Lydon knows all about us & is apparently very supportive, but we think its probably a situation best avoided - especially when his minder Rambo is about were told, so given the chance in those circumstances we'd probably rather stay at the bar.! We do not want to appear as 'fans' like all the rest, years ago then maybe we of thought different, but these days we've been at it too long to risk being shot down in flames if the mood on the day was that way inclined, it'd possibly bring about a swift end to the Sex Pistols Experience if i felt pissed-off after meeting him!
You guys appeared on a special about Nancy Spungent, tell us about the special...
Well it was on the Dvd 'Who killed Nancy', we'd been asked to help out to re-enact some scenes for the film, with my Mrs 'Sophie' as Nancy who done the part of Nancy in various T.V documentaries & film, & also on stage with us during the 'Sid set' - as in 'Sid Sings' like at the Electic Ballroom Camden 1978 when Nancy got up on stage with the band beofre they went off to their fate in New York. We're by no means actors, but happy to oblige if someone needs us to have a go - we need the money! The Who killed Nancy film set out to explore the facts surrounding the Nancy Murder in New York & try to discover wether Sid did it or not. I won't give anything away - but suggest that anone interested should buy the Dvd.
You guys appeared on Steve Jone's radio show, tell us about the appearance...
We'd been informed a few days before that Steve would like the Sex Pistols Experience to come on the show, to do an interview & play a few songs together acoustically. That immediately set us into a panic..."How can you play the Pistols songs acoustically?? un-plugged??" We'd never tried it before & certainly didn’t want to try in live on air in front of Steve Jones..! But we were persuaded all would be o.k, and it'd work fine. We knew we'd be taking a few photos so we went walking into the the indie 103.1 studio in full Sex Pistols regalia stage clothes, Steve Jones wandered over, no introductions we're necessary,
"Hello lad's, bloody hell, you lot look a sight!!". Next thing we're setting up minimal equipment in the tiny studio, bass & guitar plugged into a small amp, one snare drum, one small cymbal with the guitar case on the floor making do for Crooky to kick as the bass drum, Johnny was to sing into the mic’ next to Jonesy. We talked a lot off air, we asked him about the likelihood of the pistols playing again, it seemed unlikely for reasons we can't go into. He asked us all about how we started out?, where we'd been on tour?, how many dates we're doing - all that sort of thing.
Before we knew it, he had us pick up the instruments, & asked Steve Clones "How you going to play the intro to Pretty??" the opening riff came belting out & launched us into Pretty Vacant, Steve playing along on his acoustic guitar, filling in on backing vocals singing along, obviously loving it, finding the whole scenario bizarre, looking over to Kid Vicious & Johnny as they jammed away over one of the pistols most famous tracks. We'd no idea how the Sex Pistols music would sound played 'un-plugged' having never attempted it before, when the opening riff of Pretty Vacant fired-up it was too late to turn back, we had to go for it on a wing & a prayer, through the headphones it sounded passable enough, it flowed quite well, Steve joining in on the chorus and getting into it, seemingly as pleased as we we're that we could play with minimal equipment & it sound o.k. I'd decided day's before that we we're going to 'have' to play 'Silly Thing' & have Steve Jones do the singing - too good an opportunity to miss, but when that was suggested, he'd forgotten the words!? I had to write them out quickly for him whilst the adverts were on. We had a quick run through the lyrics, then we we're off & playing 'Silly Thing' - the stuff dreams are made of.!
Steve suggested we should go over to New York & collect their Rock'n'Roll hall of fame award on behalf of the Sex Pistols,"
"We'll just have to check our diary first??" said Kid Vicious,
A few plugs of that evenings gig in Silverlake, Hollywood, we invited Jonesy over on a complimentary ticket "Bleedin cheek..! I should av' a cut of the door..!?" he said. We had time for one last blast,
"Surprise them, Don't tell em' what your gonna play, see if they can guess it.?" Said Jones.!
We hit the opening chords of the Sex Pistols biggest hit, 'God Save The Queen’, played through that faultlessly, accompanied by Steve on guitar & his backing vocals on the 'No Future's, as the last guitar note died away...
"Splendid..!" Jonesy said of the band. "Do 'we' get paid if it ain't the sex pistols playing a sex pistols song on the radio..!??"
So that was it, we went off with arm's full of Jonesy signed stuff, posters, books, our guitars & various stuff we'd talken along, we left him with a tour t-shirt & a load of our merch'. A great time was had & he was very good company. Definately an ambition achieved.
Who are some of the bands you have done shows with?
I decided from the off that we weren't going to be a band that supports others, the Pistols didn't, & don't, (appart from their early days) & so we weren't going to either. So we're not really bothered about doing shows with others, & certainly not in a support slot. However that said, we have supported some bnads when asked, like the Damned at their 30th anniversary gig at the 100 Club in 2006, their first gig was with the SeX Pistols down there & so they wanted us to make it more like it might of been 30yrs ago to add to the celebrations, we like the 100 club & we like the Damned - so why not. However it wasn't the 'real' Damned, Rat Scabies & Brian james with Casey Chaos on vocal & Mani (Stone Roses) on bass. I guess their not talking enough to get together for one night - which is a shame for them. I regret doing that gig now actually - we were just being used, & the tight-wads wouldn't even pay our expenses. Lesson learnt.
We also have shared stages with the 'Anti Nowhere League' - because we like them. 'The Adicts' once cos we thought i might be fun - which it was. & The UK Subs a couple of times cos you gotta respect Charlie.! He's the man. Thats about it other than at festivals where it doesn't really matter where in the line we go. But of course headlining is preferred.!
Do you prefer to do shows at large venues or small clubs?
Both, we have played to 2 or 3 people, 1 person once (!) And also 20,000. But we keep our feet on the ground & remember those who helped us on the way up, so we can often be found in some smaller venues revisiting those who helped us along over the years. But we've also worked hard to build on a following over the years, so the larger venues seem to be where were at these days, its just not practical sometimes to visit a city & do a show in a small venue, & leave two or three hundred outside unable to get in. We're actually doing some classy Theatres this year for our tenth anniversary, which we look forward to, nice to not be playing some scuzz-hole toilet for a change.!
Where have you toured?
All over the U.K, all over Europe, right across America, north to south, east to west. & South America, Brazil - which was amazing. We've been offered Japan a couple of times, but its not come together for one reason or another, we'd also like ot get to Australia - we seem to have a good following down-under judging by all the emails we get, & there's alot of ex-pat English living there, so that should be a good tour if we can sort it out sometime.
See you just couldn't do these sorts of tours by playing original stuff, unless your extremely lucky, who says a tribute band isn't worthwhile!??
Is there a favorite band you like to do shows with?
Is there a favorite place you like to do shows at?
The 100 club, London probably has it. Its an iconic venue, & one the Pistols fequented often in 1976. A bit like a Beatles tribute band would want to play at the Liverpool Cavern Club, same for us & the 100 Club. We did have a list of places we wanted to play - like the 100 club, Cavern club, Longhorns Ballroom in Dallas etc, but over the years we can proudly say - we played them all. All thats left for us to do - that we feel we want to do- is play over in Norway & Japan, & we're working on putting that right.
What do you see is the future of the Sex Pistols Experience?
When it all started i never thought we see past 3 or 4years. its now ten years going on 11 & we're as active & strong as ever, with a great line-up, i often think though that we're probably getting close to the end of the road by now, it'd be nice to see out a few more years - just because its so much fun. But we just don't know what we'd go on to do after this.? And the phone keeps on ringing with gig enquiries, so we keep doing them, & we have too much of a good time to stop just now. But we are all fully aware that we could call a stop to it anytime, & we will when the time is right to do so. Might be next week, next year, or in another ten years - we just don't know, perhaps as long as the fans want to keep being fans. When things start to dry-up we'll bow out. We've achieved pretty much all we wanted to, ticked all the boxes, done all & far more than any Sex pistols tribute band could ever wish to do, or hope to, we've done it all, & have nothing to prove anymore to anyone. We call our own shots, & we'll stop when we decide to. So long as it remains fun for us to do, & fun for those to watch - then we'll be here hopefully.
How can people contact the band?
The Website is best www.sexpistolsexperience.co.uk Myspace used to be 'it' but what a shme some cleve-dick came along & screwed that all up. So many people put such alot of work into their profiles just for some wise guy corperate big-wigs to wipe it all away. That really annoyed us cos myspace was such a useful tool for bands & fans, now its rubbish & they don't seem to listen to what the users want.
Rant over. .come along to a show - enjoy.!
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